Personal Injury Law in Las Vegas, NV
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Las Vegas? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Las Vegas, NV can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in is centered around securing compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. In these cases, the plaintiff seeks financial recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses resulting from the defendant’s careless actions. These cases often involve negotiations between the insurance companies of both parties and may be settled out of court, avoiding the need for litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Las Vegas, NV
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Las Vegas
The Center For Disease Control and Prevention’s Nevada-specific health data indicates that Nevada’s health runs in the middle of the pack when compared to the rest of the nation. As far as accidents and unintentional injury is concerned, Nevada ranks 34th in the nation. This means that cities like Las Vegas are safer than say, Los Angeles, which is only a few hours away.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Las Vegas, NV
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Nevada
A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations, and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either a settlement or a court appearance. First, you and your Nevada attorney will file a complaint with the civil court. Then, the defendant will answer and either negotiate a settlement or begin the discovery process by requesting evidence. After this is complete, most cases will still opt to settle outside of court. However, if no settlement can be reached then the case will proceed to trial. With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics found that the majority of cases disposed of were motor vehicle-related. In addition, about three-quarters of the cases were disposed of through a settlement or voluntary dismissal. Only about 3% of personal injury cases were settled by a trial verdict in the U.S. In Nevada, and Las Vegas, these statistics are also applicable. Most cases settle for between $3,000-$75,000 across the nation, but of course, more extreme cases in Las Vegas involving more severe injuries or higher medical costs could settle for much more. If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in NV, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all. If your Nevada personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted. Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses. General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish. Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. In Nevada, there is a damage cap of $100,000 for claims against government employees. In addition, there is a cap on punitive damages. Even in Las Vegas, punitive damages are rare. The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized. Nevada’s statute of limitations allows you two years to file a relevant personal injury claim. In Las Vegas, the two year statute begins to run on the date of your accident. We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. Pursue a personal injury claim in Las Vegas against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Nevada state lines. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area! Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States. With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Are you curious to learn about other areas of Las Vegas law? We have articles on many legal topics in the state.Nevada Personal Injury Settlement
Damage Awards in Nevada
Statute of Limitations in Las Vegas, NV Personal Injury Law?
Work With an Experienced Las Vegas, NV Lawyer
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